What happens if the grand jury finds probable cause?

Study for the MBE Critical Pass Test. Enhance your knowledge with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Prepare thoroughly for your exam with detailed hints and explanations.

Multiple Choice

What happens if the grand jury finds probable cause?

When the grand jury finds probable cause, the next step is to issue an indictment. This formal charging document accuses the defendant of specific crimes and moves the case forward into the prosecutorial process, such as arraignment and trial. The other options describe later stages or actions that aren’t generated by the grand jury’s finding: conviction happens only after a trial and verdict; a plea agreement is negotiated after charges are filed; and a dismissal or no bill would occur if no probable cause were found. So the indictment is the correct consequence of the grand jury’s finding.

When the grand jury finds probable cause, the next step is to issue an indictment. This formal charging document accuses the defendant of specific crimes and moves the case forward into the prosecutorial process, such as arraignment and trial. The other options describe later stages or actions that aren’t generated by the grand jury’s finding: conviction happens only after a trial and verdict; a plea agreement is negotiated after charges are filed; and a dismissal or no bill would occur if no probable cause were found. So the indictment is the correct consequence of the grand jury’s finding.

More practice questions